More Than A Man - Chapter 4
by Carolyn Faulkner

“Jessie!”

Startled by the fierce anger in his tone, Jess turned from where she had been crouching next to the nest of cats in the back corner of the barn.  She had just barely succeeded in gathering all of the babies and mama into an old blanket she’d found and as she took her first step back towards J.D. and the door, her foot landed on a soft floorboard and she sank knee deep through the rotted wood.

At her startled cry, J.D.’s heart lodged firmly in his throat.  He ripped the old door off its hinges and ran into the barn, following the sound of her voice unerringly.